“Constant vigil to keep out illegal immigrants by State officials”: Kerala Government tells Supreme Court

The Kerala Government has informed the Supreme Court that strict instructions have been given to concerned field officers to maintain constant vigil, so as to identify the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, in case they illegally reach the state and continue to live here.

The response has been filed in the writ petition seeking deportation of illegal immigrants including Rohingyas and Bangladeshis within one year has said that the Bengaluru police have not housed any Rohingyas in any camp or detention center within its jurisdiction.

The affidavit submitted that "Migrant labourers from North-East India usually come to Kerala for better economic opportunities. Field officers are sensitized to keep utmost vigil on the North Indian labourers, to verify their identities and whether any illegal immigrants from Bangladesh/Myanmar has intruded in the guise of migrant labourers. The State Government has taken appropriate steps to identify and deport illegal immigrants, accordingly."

The response further added that stringent actions are being taken against the foreigners who are overstaying, arrived with forged travel documents, and surreptitiously entered into India from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

It informed the bench that last five years Seventy (70) Bangladesh Nationals were arrested who were found to be illegally staying in the State. Out of this, Fifty-seven (57) were deported to Bangladesh and legal proceedings are pending against the remaining 13 Bangladesh Nationals. Whereas, as per the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs Kerala Government has constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of the Home Secretary to detect foreigners who have been illegally overstaying in India since January 1, 2011.

Further, the affidavit said, "At present, 12 Rohingyans from Myanmar and 214 Pak nationals (including 94 "Out of Views") are residing in the state”. Accordingly, Applications for Long Term Visa of 107 Pak nationals are pending with MHA and 1 Pak national is staying on the strength of the Orders of Hon. High Court of Kerala. One Pak national is facing trial in the court. In the 94 OUT OF VIEW (OV) Pak Nationals, 87 males and 7 females are included. Out of which, the Death documents of 15 Pak nationals, who were reportedly died (14 males & I female), are yet to be received from Civil authorities.

Case Title: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay Vs. Union of India